Ubuntu
nautilus package

How to expand tree (directory) node from keyboard, in list view

Asked by Dimone

the "list" view in nautilus is the kind of "tree-veiw", i.e. I can expand directories staying in the current location. To do it with mouse i just click small triangle before the dir name in the list. But I often use keyboard and I cannot find keys to expsnd/collapse the dir node of the list (tree). Similar functionality in trees in Windows can be accessed with just pressing "left" and "right" arrows, but in nautilus it does not work. I've tried many key combinations, searched the help and faqs, but cannot find an answer. It is very small thing, but it is very annoyng. Help me please, with it.

Thanks in advance.

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Ubuntu nautilus Edit question
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Solved by:
Bhavani Shankar
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Best Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#1

Actually its an idea being worked upon

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/15724/

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/8466/

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Dimone (dmitry-semikin) said : 		#2

Well, thanks a lot for the links.

I've found there an actual answer to my questions, that navigation using arrow keys (left and right) is not possible. But there is possibility to expand/collapse directory using Num+/Num- keys (notice, that general + and _ keys does not work -- only ones in numpad). This approach is not convenient for me as I work on netbook (MSI wind) and working with numpad is not convenient for the most things. Besides, even functionality, provided with Num+ and Num- keys is not so comfortable as similar thing provided, e. g. in windows trees with arrow keys, as in Nautilus the branch can be coollapsed only when its parent node is selected (with Num- key), but in windows it is possible to collapse branch being on any item inside it (just pressing twice left arrow: the first one get selection to parent node and the second hit collapses the branch. So, IMHO Nautilus (and other applications, which use tree-views in their gui) should use navigation similar to Windows tree behavior.

Once again, thanks for the answer to Bhavani Shankar.

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Dimone (dmitry-semikin) said : 		#3

Thanks Bhavani Shankar, that solved my question.

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Avi Marcus (avi-amarcus) said : 		#4

Wow, Numpad + and - are inconvenient on laptops without a dedicated number pad.
Also, as Dimone mentioned, it would be nice to close the tree while IN it, and not just on the folder entry.